Virgin Creek Beach(MacKerricher State Park)

Located in MacKerricher State Park, Virgin Creek Beach is a large beach with light brown sand in Mendocino County. The northern part of the beach is situated below an oceanfront bluff and it is also narrower and rockier than its southern part. The Virgin Creek flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. The water near Virgin Creek Beach is cold and has strong currents.

 Virgin Creek Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so prepare your visit accordingly. 

Virgin Creek Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, wildlife watching, fishing, surfing, swimming, hiking, beachcombing, bodysurfing, boogie boarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, tidepooling, and jet skiing. Virgin Creek Beach is a popular surfing spot - the water near the beach offers large and consistent surfing waves. However, if you are planning to go into the water near Virgin Creek Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is cold and has dangerous currents. In addition, sharks have also been frequently reported in the water near Virgin Creek Beach. We also recommend reviewing the quality of the water near Virgin Creek Beach before engaging in aquatic recreational activities as it is occasionally contaminated by the increased water inflow from Virgin Creek. The water near the beach is home to many animals including seals, sea lions, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). Another popular activity in Virgin Creek Beach is fishing - some of the popular catches from the water near Virgin Creek Beach include surfperches and many kinds of groundfish. If you are planning to fish in the water near Virgin Creek Beach, we recommend complying with the local fishing regulations. 

MacKerricher State Park has a variety of habitats that you can explore via hiking and biking trails including grasslands, sand dunes, forests, and wetlands. The state park also has a lake named Lake Cleone, whose surrounding areas are home to many animals including foxes, raccoons, and black-tailed deer. If you like birdwatching, the lake also attracts many bird species including ducks, cormorants, and herons. In addition, this lake and the area surrounding it is also a popular resting spot for migratory waterfowl. If you like horse riding, there is a private concession near MacKerricher State Park which offers horse riding tours within designated state park areas. The state park’s visitor center also has many interesting exhibits including a grey whale skeleton. In addition, docent-led tours, junior ranger programs, and campfire programs are frequently organized by the state park. The state park also has four campgrounds. If you are planning to camp here, you can visit MacKerricher State Park’s web page on the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website for more information on the state park’s campsites

Getting to Virgin Creek Beach is easy - the access trail to the beach starts across the street from the address 22991 Shoreline Highway/Pacific Coast Highway. There is a free parking lot available near the start of this access trail which is open from 6 am to 10 pm.

There are many attractions near Virgin Creek Beach. Triangle Tattoo & Museum has interesting tattoo-related artifacts and exhibits. The museum is run by renowned local tattoo artists Madame Chinchilla and Mr.G. The International Sea Glass Museum has one of the largest collections of beautiful sea glass pieces in the world. In addition, this museum also displays exquisite terracotta pieces and also has a gift store. If you are looking for another attraction near Virgin Creek Beach, Otis R. Johnson Wilderness Park is a seven-acre large forested park that has hiking trails. This park offers a unique insight into the regional biodiversity of North California.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Virgin Creek Beach. Mayan Fusion Restaurant offers fantastic Mexican cuisine with culinary influences from the Yucatan peninsula. David’s Restaurant offers outstanding breakfast dishes including burritos, waffles, eggs, and burgers. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Virgin Creek Beach, the modestly priced Asian Buffet offers many amazing Asian dishes including chow mein, fried rice, egg rolls, and orange chicken.

If you are looking for a hotel near Virgin Creek Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star North Cliff Hotel offers mesmerizing views of the northern California coastline and also serves complimentary breakfast. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Emerald Dolphin Inn & Mini Golf which offers many amenities including a mini-golf course, a hair salon, and a video game arcade. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Virgin Creek Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Seabird Lodge offers many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, and guest laundry services.